Disposable Dental Valve Device for Saliva Ejectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental valves used in saliva ejectors and high volume evacuators often become clogged with debris, leading to malfunctions, potential cross-contamination, and require complex sterilization processes, which are costly and time-consuming, and often not fully followed, posing risks of infection and operational disruptions.
Innovation Solution
A disposable dental valve device with a rotatable valve sealing body and injection molding manufacturing method, designed for easy installation, single-use, and antimicrobial properties, eliminating the need for sterilization and reducing noise from vacuum sources through a cap device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If reusable valves are used in dental evacuators, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but the valves become clogged with debris and require sterilization, leading to operational disruptions and potential cross-contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a disposable valve design that is discarded after a single use, eliminating the need for sterilization and preventing cross-contamination. The valve includes a valve body with a clog-resistant passage design that handles debris effectively during its single operational cycle, after which the entire unit is disposed of rather than cleaned and sterilized.
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable valve is designed as a separate, replaceable component that can be independently discarded. This segmentation allows the valve to be replaced without affecting other parts of the e vacuator system, maintaining operational reliability while simplifying the overall system architecture.
2Ease of repair
If valves are disassembled for cleaning, then debris removal is possible, but the valve cannot be used again until repaired and cleaned, causing time loss
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than designing a valve that can be disassembled and cleaned, the patent adopts a disposable approach where the valve is replaced entirely after use. This eliminates the time required for disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly, and prevents any downtime associated with maintenance activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve is extracted as a separate disposable component from the main e vacuator system. This allows the valve to be quickly replaced without disassembling or cleaning the main system, minimizing interruption to dental procedures.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional valve designs are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but debris accumulates on internal surfaces creating breeding grounds for microbial contaminants
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable valve design eliminates the microbial contamination risk entirely by discarding the valve after a single use, preventing any opportunity for microbial growth on internal surfaces. The valve body incorporates a streamlined passage design that minimizes dead zones where debris could accumulate during its operational life.
4Quantity of substance
If reusable valves are implemented, then initial cost is lower, but sterilization processes are costly and time-consuming and often not fully followed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the sterilization step entirely by using a disposable valve that is discarded after single use. While the per-unit cost of the valve is higher than a reusable valve, the elimination of sterilization equipment, chemicals, and time offsets these costs, and more importantly, ensures compliance without requiring additional resources.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for forming a disposable dental valve device is disclosed which comprises the steps of injecting a resin into a mold with the melt temperature of the resin being about 201° C. and the mold temperature being about 35° C., filling the resin in the mold for a fill time of about 0.70 seconds, providing a peak first stage fill pressure of about 61.9 Mpa, providing a pack pressure of about 49.5 Mpa, and providing a pack time of about 5 seconds.